The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

many names have you got down, Dickf"
ssThirty eight" replied a gruff voice,
which knew to belong to short, broad
backed man with red hair and the look
of a prize-fghter. "Since we started out
some of the men have turned chicken
hearted, and are afraid of the moose. but
as soon as We strike blow there are six
or eight more who will be with u.s."
"Thirty-eight and twelve are fifty:
mused Dick. "That's enough, if we
move together and move right, to capture
a man-of-war. It's too early to plan yet.
Well just keep our minds made up,
watch the officers and passengers, and
four weeks from now will be time to
settle the details"
There was lots more talked, and when
could get away and have an interview
with the Captain in his cabin I told him
some things which made his eyes flash.
He fully realized that plot to capture
the ship was Matching, but he had sew eral
weeks in which to prepare to checkmate
it. and was not in the least ratified. He
cautioned me to say nothing to the mates
or to any of the passengers, and ordered
me to continue my espionage of the sus-
pected passengers. We had on board, if
remember Alright, about $50 soldiers and
citizens as first class passengers. The
soldiers numbered about thirty. There
were perhaps twenty young men who
wore going out to take Government posts.
The rest of the first class passengers were
tourists, spectators, ranchmen and women
and children. l looked the lot over very
thoroughly, and made up my mind that
we had from sixty to seventy men among
the first class who could be depended on
to stand by the Captain.
The emigrants counted up fully $50,
but there were not over fifty men. A
good thirty of the lot were single women
going out to take service, ard the rest
were wives and children. I figured that
there were only seven men in the steer
who could fight for ship. They could
not we'll be counted on, however, for
couple of ruiiians, armed with pistols,
could hold them in check when the hour
came. We had some twenty-six sailors,
carpenter, boatswain, doctor,
steward, four cooks, and two mates. If
all were loyal and she ship was not taken
bv surprise, there were men enough to
put the mutineers down pretty quick.
But all were not loyal. Twelve Of the
sailors had already been won over, and
when the hour came to strike it WAS
likely the number would be increased to
twenty. Figured, and think the cap
tain did too, that it would about be an
even thing in numbers. After / made
my second report he gave me orders to
clean up all the firearms and load them
afresh. These were all kept in his cabin,
together with lot of cutlasses and
boarding pixies, and spent two days on
the weapons without any one being the
wiser.
What bothered the Captain was to
know when the attack was to be made,
and he could hardly see the object of
one. No sane man, no matter how tough
he was, could think of capturing the ship
and playing pirate with her. She had no
cannon, and in few days at most would
be hunted down by some war vessel. MIR.
Cotton believed there was some plot to
which the capture of the ship was only
part, but, try as hard as could, l could
not get at the secret until long weeks
had passed, and the remainder of our
voyage was only question OF days.
Then, one day, got it quite by acci-
dent. Ihad gone into the forecastle at
noon to see what could pick up among
the sailors. 1 crept into one of the
hunks and pulled blanket over ME, and
in about an hour, or after the watch be-
low had eaten their dinner. the ruffian
who had done most of the talking with
our Bill in the public house came down
among the men. 1t was against orders,
but he had somehow slipped past the
mates. | now heard him called Sam. 1t
seemed that all the watch below, as we'll
as part of that Oh duty, W re in the
plot, and they made no bones of speak
ing. Mypre:ence was, of course, unsus-
pected.
Then came to light what was afte ward
known throughout England as the
Winston Conspiracy" of which the
papers were full for months. John Win
ston, noted and wealthy sporting man,
was convicted of robbery and sentenced
to penal servitude He had brother
James, who interested friends in an effort
to rescue him. Some were in for money
and some for the love of adventure. 1t
took them a year or more to lay their
plans, and the money used up amounted
to over Els, 900. Three or four of the
conspirators secured places as guards in
the penal colony, sloop was purchased
Of coast trader, and when the Queen
Bess sailed she took with her as passen-
gers the rest of the gang. 1t was to be
calculated in Australia when she would
appear of the coast. Winston and other
hard characters were to make break,
secure the sloop, and stand out to sea.
When they met the ship they were to
run her aboard, and, with the help OF the
gang in the steerage, capture her.
Women and children and such as would
not Join them were to be put ashore on
some island and the ship headed for
America. 1t was confidently expected
she would reach that country In safety,
and there was no law which would gle
the pirates up to justice. The Queen
Bess was now within five days sail Of the
coast, and Sam had come down to ar
range the particulars. He believed the
officers in total ignorance of the plot, and
had no doubt of success. All were to be
on the watch for the sloop, and as soon
as she was sighted every mutineer was to
appear on deck. If the sloop showed
signals of distress and a boat was sent off,
then the ship was to be taken while the
boat was gone. If the sloop ran the ship
aboard, rs if by accident, the fight
,,.s to borin the moment the mantruyrc